Massachusetts

To start the new year, we have a victory to celebrate! On New Year's Day, Governor Baker signed the Children and Firefighters Protection Act into law.

You may have called upon the services of Mass Save.  Free of charge, they will send someone out to your house and evaluate the efficiency of your home or business, replace your light bulbs with high efficiency LEDs and give recommendations on how to increase the efficiency of your home. 

Because “count every vote” isn’t just a slogan – it’s an acknowledgement that every single voter’s voice matters, and an affirmation that we will stand by our electoral process even – and especially – when it’s hard.

I am an enthusiastic “every-time” voter. I enjoy looking up and down the ballot at the names of the people who I feel have earned my vote by being responsive to my advocacy and values. Whether it is a Presidential election in November or a sleepy town election where the incumbents are running unopposed, I always look forward to showing up on election day at my local community center.

There was a fire in my neighborhood (in Dorchester, MA) this week. I woke up at about 4:40 to popping sounds – wondered if they were fireworks (annoying at that hour but ok) or maybe gun shots (yikes). It didn’t sound quite like either. But quickly I heard sirens…lots of sirens...converging very nearby.

Introducing carbon nanotubes, a scientific wonder substance.  You may not have heard of carbon nanotubes (or CNTs), but they are probably already part of your life.  They may be in your cell phone or computer, where they are used as semiconductors, or part of your bike frame, where they provide strength without weight.  They could even be in your tires, helping improve handling on slick roadways.

Canvassing on the streets of central Connecticut after the PFAS spills last summer, community members supplied an abundance of energy and motivation that lead to fantastic steps toward protecting our communities from PFAS chemicals. 

In our work at Clean Water Action we throw around a lot of statistics and chemical names which, if you’re not used to hearing them, all sound pretty much like “ethyl-methyl-bad-stuff.” Sometimes that’s really all you need to know: “there’s something bad there – stay away.” 

But one group of chemicals you really should know about is PFAS, aka “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances”, aka “the forever chemicals.” To keep it simple, we’ve boiled down the facts for you in this handy infographic. Check it out!

It is clear to everyone that it’s time for bold, ambitious climate action and the Massachusetts Legislature has a lot of options to choose from.  

If you live in Massachusetts, I'm almost 100% certain you or someone you know has asthma. See, our state holds the dubious distinction of being the worst in the Northeast with regards to asthma. The prevalence of asthma in both children and adults—and related deaths—is amongst the highest in the nation.